A-Train homes in on Capitals

Five weeks before the opening of the NHL’s unrestricted free agent market, sources have confirmed that Senators defenceman Anton Volchenkov has put his Ottawa house up for sale.

All signs point to Washington as his next destination.

Talk is the Capitals are prepared to offer Volchenkov a salary in the $5 million-range, which would be a $1.8-million raise from his 2009-10 stipend. There is also the belief that the Caps will have star winger Alex Ovechkin call his comrade and sell him on moving to the D.C. area.

Part of the appeal for Volchenkov — along with a lavish contract and the fact Washington is expected to be a Stanley Cup contender — figures to be that he’d be joining a team that already boasts fellow Russians Alexander Semin , Semyon Varlamov and Ovechkin .Volchenkov, of course, could still decide he wants to remain in Ottawa, where he has played all seven of his NHL seasons. But talks between the Senators and the league’s all-time shot-blocking leader are going nowhere.

“I’d like to re-sign him, but the dollars don’t work at the present asking price,”Senators GM Bryan Murray said Saturday.

7 Responses to A-Train homes in on Capitals

This would be a very good move for the Caps. Them as well as the Pens could use another good defenceman, What I think the Pens should do is pursue Dan Hamhuis. He would help them out a lot as well they should try to work out a trade with Vancouver to get Michael Grabner off of them and try him out on Crosby's wing. I have a hunch about that Grabner kid I think he could be huge for the Pens who really need to find Crosby a good winger.